KEY POINTS:
The MetService expects the rain affecting much of the North Island to linger until the middle of next week, as heavy rain warnings went up over parts of the upper island yesterday.
But Wellington will escape the weekend rain and the South Island is currently heading for good, sunny weather.
Warnings were in place for Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo, Taumarunui, the headwaters of the Whanganui River, Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty as a rain band made its way across the north of the country.
Those warnings have now been extended to cover Gisborne and Hawkes Bay north from Havelock North.
In some parts of these areas 50 to 90mm could fall in a nine to 15 hour period, MetService said today.
Weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the "meaty part" of the rain band expected to reach Northland and Auckland last night was expected to peter out into showers over the weekend.
But in the meantime, the rain would continue today, with the possibility of thundery downpours, particularly in western parts.
"We are forecasting that peak intensities of around 40mm in an hour are likely.
"This is torrential, and may bring flash flooding and briefly disrupt traffic."
And revellers to the annual Christmas in the Park celebration on Saturday at Auckland Domain should brace for the possibility of showers.
Mr McDavitt said showers won't be constant, but would be "enough to be inconvenient".
The sunny days of summer return to parts north of Taupo from about Thursday next week, he said.
"Basically it's just going through a showery period with the nor'easters over the weekend into early next week."
Mr McDavitt said the rain will be, at least, welcomed by some in the lower parts of the North Island.
"This region hasn't seen any rain at all over the past 19 days.
"Amounts of around 20mm to 50mm are likely in Hawkes Bay, and lesser amounts further south and west.
"Farmers and gardeners here will be welcoming every drop.
SATURDAY FORECAST
Auckland - 22C rain
Hamilton - 23C rain
Wellington - 18C cloudy
Christchurch - 19C sunny
Dunedin - 18C sunny
